Rockets' Harden becoming old self again

James Harden, left, takes a hit from the Spurs' Manu Ginobili during Saturday's game, in which Harden showed he's regaining his health with a 31-point outburst.

James Harden, left, takes a hit from the Spurs' Manu Ginobili...

SALT LAKE CITY - Guard James Harden couldn't contain his emotions Saturday night when the Rockets put away the Spurs in the final seconds of an intense fourth quarter in San Antonio.

Pat Beverley threw his arms around his teammate, and Harden delivered an abundance of chest bumps and high-fives. He let out a yell, beat his fist on his chest, and demonstrated his happiness.

For the first time in a month, Harden had given his teammates what they needed. He scored 16 of his game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter when the Rockets needed a push, an offensive spark, a leader in the 112-106 win.

Litany of problems

The beginning of this season has been rough for Harden, who has faced nagging health problems from a sore wrist to the flu to two injured feet. While trying to get himself back to the player he expects to be, he has missed three games and stewed with frustration.

"It seems like I have had to deal with a little bit of everything," Harden, 24, said. "It's early in the season, though, and I need to be sure to take care of these injury problems and not let them linger and be worse later on."

But he has had teammates step up. Jeremy Lin started for Harden in three games. Aaron Brooks has been a force off the bench. And Harden has given himself time to heal.

"Everyone has been stepping up and playing well," Harden said. "That allowed me to be able to take some rest. We are a really deep team, and those guys can all come through."

On Saturday, however, when faced with a Spurs team that erased a 23-point deficit and took the lead early in the fourth quarter, Harden became the player the Rockets have come to expect late in games.

"When they took the lead, I just knew I needed to be aggressive and keep attacking," Harden said. "I knew my team needed me."

Harden hit a couple of big 3-pointers, drove to draw fouls, hit free throws down the stretch, grabbed a couple big defensive rebounds, and added a few big passes. He was the nucleus of the fourth-quarter comeback and the Rockets' first win in San Antonio in eight games.

Howard's praise

"He is great in that situation," center Dwight Howard said. "He can hit big shots; he can make those free throws. He is definitely a guy you know can make a big play."

As the Rockets prepare to play at Utah on Monday night, they are happy to have one of their leaders back on the floor. After Saturday night, it's easy to see why. Harden looks like Harden again.

"He just really went out there and fought for it," coach Kevin McHale said. "He really went out there and got it."